The “black pharaohs” excavation project (sudan) 1995-1996

The focus of the “black pharaohs” excavation project was the prospection of the concession area and the excavation of remains found there. Two royal tombs were found: the tomb referred to as P-26 consists of two funeral chambers dug into the rock that is accessible via a gradual ramp 22m in length. It retains some of the remains of wall paintings that once covered the walls and vaults of funeral chambers. Of particular note in the vault of the first chamber is the representation of an “astronomical ceiling”, from which it has been possible to recover part of the name of the king to whom the tomb belonged. Semesu Uhemu. P-27 is a tomb comprised of a single chamber, accessible via a gradual ramp; it could be the tomb of a queen. The superstructure that should have crowned these important subterranean constructions has been practically demolished. However, it would have had a pyramid shape. Beside these tombs, other smaller tombs that could be classified as civilian (as opposed to royal) have also been found over a longer period. Thus, tombs T-2 and T-3 would be the oldest tombs in the complex, pre-dating the Napatan period, while tombs T-1 and T-5 it is believed date from the Meroitic period. The most recent would be T-4, which is situated close to the so-called Group X.